2/ This piece wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible work of several colleagues, Sam Ogozalek in particular for his data crunching skills. Grateful for the collab, & the chance to help paint a fuller picture of what’s happening in the skies:

www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

“It appears that safety is being forced to take a back seat due to fear of retribution, which means we all lose,” the person added.

A former FAA official, granted anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the contents of the email, said that a “healthy aviation system depends on free and open exchange of ideas and expertise.”

Unlike the advisory committee that was disbanded under TSA last month — which primarily deals with airline and airport security — these committees absolutely deal with aviation safety.

The directive comes as the agency and the airline industry are reeling from last week’s collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the first fatal crash of a U.S. airline in nearly two decades.

And a little context: After days of uncertainty, officials suggest NJ drones may be a case of mistaken identity t.co/Ij2V4NFyKP